Boston

Boston's population expanded in the decade to 2011. Data from the census also show there were changes in work life, religion and marriage.

The population reached nearly 65,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Boston increased by 16%, from almost 55,800 to 64,600.

The addition of just under 8,900 people means this area's population was the third-fastest-growing in the East Midlands and increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Boston was home to, on average, 1.3 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the East Midlands

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the East Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Boston

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Boston remained 42 years.

This urban area had a higher average age than the East Midlands and remained somewhat older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 2,600 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years.

About 13% of people in Boston are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Boston by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

Boston saw England's third-largest fall in the proportion of people working long hours.

In 2011, just over one in nine (11%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Boston said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 17% in 2001. The percentage that worked less than 16 hours in a week increased from 1.6% to 2.4%.

The largest decrease occurred in Isles of Scilly (from 19% to 12%) followed by South Holland (from 21% to 15%).

Because of its small size, comparisons to Isles of Scilly should be made with caution.

Long hour working in Boston decreased by 6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Boston, the East Midlands and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Boston

The number of people in Boston that described themselves as Christian increased from about 45,000 in 2001 to about 46,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 80% to 71%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the East Midlands (from 72% to 59%) and the average across England (from 72% to 59%).

The number of people in Boston that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 6,400 in 2001 to about 13,000 in 2011 (from 11% to 20%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from just over 4,100 to about 4,500. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 7.4% to 7.0%.

Just over 430 people (0.4%) said they were Muslim, up from just under 250 in 2001 (0.7%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population who identified as Christian in Boston decreased by 9.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Boston by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Boston residents that were unemployed increased from 2.8% to 4.2% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (55%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 52% in 2001. The percentage of Boston residents that were self-employed decreased from 8.4% to 8.3%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 3.4% in 2001 to 4.2% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Boston increased by 1.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Boston, the East Midlands and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Boston stood out from other areas for children

In Boston, the proportion went up from 26% in 2001 to 28% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion fell from 29% to 28%.

The proportion of households without children in Boston fell from 65% to 64%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents decreased from 9.0% to 8.5%.

The proportion of households with children was lower than across the East Midlands

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links